Buffer



A. SPENCER Feb. 26, 1935.

BUFFER Filed Feb. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A.SPENCER Feb. 26, 1935.

BUFFER Filed Feb. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 7, 1930, Serial No. 426,608 In Great Britain August 14, 1929 Claims. (Gian-59) This invention relates to central bufling and Fig. 5 is a sectional front view of the arrangedraw gear for railway and like vehicles and parment shown in Figs. 3 and 4. ticularly to bufilng and draw gear of the kind In theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 known as friction draft gear, that is to say of the friction draft gear of a well known type is indis' kind in which buffing and tension shocks transcated at l embraced by the yoke 2 and located 5 mitted through the central coupler are absorbed as usual between a plate 3 bearing againstthe and dissipated mainly by friction. end 4 of the yoke, and a follower head 5 through Draw gear of this kind usually comprises heliwhich is passed a y 6 that e s h ou cal steel springs, wedge-shaped blocks, spring slots in the limbs of the yoke allas heretofore lilcasing, follower plate and other parts enclosed 11 1 1 The Shank 7 Of t e Coup head 818 also within a coupler yoke located between longitudinn d to h y i e usual m nn y nal members of the underframe at the inner side ea s of a y of the headstock, Fixed to theouter side of the vehicle headstock The general object of the invention is to reis a casing 10 within which is housed anindiamove from the friction gear the final stresses inrubber Sp 11 t U- Ch the-Sha k 7 eX- 15 cident to intense buffing blows, thereby considtends 12 indicates a COmDTQSSiOII plate in front erably enhancing. the durability of the gear and Ofthe Spring 11 and throughwhich h S a 7 freedom from the likelihood of fracture, while also eXtendS, the Said plate having a p 13 further and favorable objects will appear from that p j through the C s 0 b hind the the following description. coupler head 8 in a position such that inward 20 According to the present invention there is movement of t 1 head w b fi combined with the end sill, the coupler shank and Suits in the plate 12 being m v d w d y and the coupler head, a central buffer comprising a the indie-rubber spring 11 thereby p ssed. housing secured to the outer face of the end sill, In the example de t ce the indiarubber an india-rubber spring th i compression springll is of the before-mentioned well known plate surrounding the coupler shank mounted in p Comprising units each Consisting of concensaid housing in engagement with said spring and trio lihgS 0f ihdia-lllbbel' ulded 011 to both projecting at the front face of the housing being Sides Of metal P normally free of said head but arranged for op- The fOrWardlY Projecting p t 3 of the comeration by said head on its inward movement D plate 12 is fitted With a p t 14 Wh ch 30 under b fiin stre supports the weight of the coupler head and on The external buffer spring is preferably con- Which the Shank t y s. stituted by an india-rubber spring of the well- The gear Shown in Figs- 4 d 5, s S m lar to known type comprising concentric rings or frames that ShOWn in Figs- 1 and 2 except ins ead of india-rubber moulded on to metal plates with of a single in ia-r b r prin 11 surrounding the rings or frames encircling the coupler shank. the Coupler head Shah-1i a p 0f d e-rubber The said spring is located Within a casing fixed SDTihg$ 15 are Provided, Sp ing bein 1 0911 6. to or mounted on the headstock and the compresat each Side the p ead Shank 7 in front sion of the spring is efifected by a compression of the headstock Th8 metal ad 14 w ch 40 plate having a part th t projects through t takes the weight of the coupler head and on which 40 front of the casing d against, which t rear the shank 7 slides is also provided in this embodiof the coupler head bears when moved inwardly ment of the fl upon buffing. The said springs 15, which are of the before- The external buffer comes into action to take mentioned type comprising COIICeIltYiC rings of inthe final buffing stresses, after operation of the diet-rubber moulded on to metal P are 45 friction draft gear to a certain extent, or may mounted on bolts 16 within a suitable casting 17 be compressed simultaneously with the operation bolted t0 the front of the icle headstock. A of the friction draft gear. front compression member 18 for the springs 15 Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying illustrative is mounted to slide on the bolts 16 and the said drawings showinsectional elevation and sectional member 18 is so arranged as to be moved in- 50 plan, respectively, one construction of buffing and wardly by inward movement of the coupler head draw gear embodying the invention. 8 in order to compress the springs 15 when buff- Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views to Figs. 1 and ing. In the right hand half of Fig. 5 the member 2, respectively, illustrating another embodiment 18 is omitted for the sake of clearness. 5 of the invention. To facilitate assembly of the parts the central opening in the member 18 is made sufficiently large to enable the enlarged inner end of the shank '7 to be passed therethrough and after assembly the upper part of the said opening has a block 19 fixed therein to reduce the effective height of the opening.

The constructions described will serve to illustrate the invention as defined in the claims but variations may be made Without departure from the invention.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with an end sill, a coupler shank and a coupler head, of a central buffer comprising a housing secured to the outer face of the end sill, an india-rubber spring therein surrounding said shank, a compression plate also surrounding the coupler shank mounted in said housing in engagement with said spring and projecting at the front face of the housing being normally free of said head but arranged for operation by said head on its inward movement under buffing stress.

2. The combination with an end sill, a coupler shank and a coupler head, of a central buffer comprising a housing secured to the outer face of the end sill, an india-rubber spring therein surrounding said shank and an open centred compression plate also surrounding the coupler shank mounted in said housing in engagement with said spring and a flange to said plateprojecting at the front face of the housing being normally free of said head but arranged for operation byvthe coupler head on inward movement under bufling stress.

l 3. The combination with an end sill, a coupler shank and a coupler head having a rear striking face, of a central bufier comprising a housing secured to the outer face of the end sill having an open front and an inwardly directed flange,

an india-rubber spring in said housing surrounding said shank, and an open centred compression plate also surrounding the coupler shank mounted in said housing in engagement with said spring and positioned by said inwardly directed flange and a flange on said compression plate projecting through said open front being normally free of said head but arranged for operation by the coupler head striking face on inward movement under bufiing stress.

4. The combination with an end sill, a coupler shank and a coupler head having a rear striking face, of a central buffer comprising a housing secured to the outer face of the end sill having an open front and an inwardly directed flange surrounding said shank an india-rubber spring consisting of a plurality of concentric frames of india-rubber carried by open centred metal plates in said housing surrounding the shank, and an open centred compression plate also surrounding the coupler shank and permitting it free lateral movement, said plate being mounted in said housing in engagement with said spring and positioned by said inwardly directed flange, and a flange on said compression plate projecting through said open front being normally free of said head but arranged for operation by the coupler head striking face on its inward movement under bufling stress.

5. In combination with an end sill, a coupler shank and a coupler head, of a central buffer comprising a housing secured to the outer surface of the end sill, an india-rubber cushioning means in said housing having portions thereof located on opposite sides of said shank, a compression plate surrounding the coupler shank mounted in said housing in engagement with said cushioning means and projecting at the front face of the housing, said plate being normally free of said head but arranged for operation by said head on its inward movement under buiiing stresses.

ALEXANDER SPENCER. 

